Extrusion press



July 19, 1955 F. J. KENT EXTRUSION PRESS Filed Dec. 4, 1950 mm M M m mJ a w M N m F P Y B United States Patent EXTRUSION PRESS Francis J. Kent, Forest Hills, N. Y., assignor to Hydropress, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application December 4, 1950, Serial No. 198,997

4 Claims. (Cl. 207-9) The present invention relates to extrusion presses and more particularly to improvements in extrusion presses extruding billets of both relatively small and large diameters.

In extruding billets having relatively small cross-sections which will result in an increased specific pressure on the metal, it is necessary to employ a relatively slender extrusion stem. When such a slender stem is utilized, there is a tendency for it to longitudinally bend, bow, or buckle under the high axial loads applied thereto in forcing the material of the billet through the die. In order to eliminate this tendency to buckle and the consequent possibility of failure of the stem, the practice heretofore has been to shorten the billet and the extrusion stem as well as the length of its effective stroke when handling billets of small diameter. this without changing the position of the loading device along the length of the press, a recess has been provided in the side of the billet container facing the die so that the latter may be positioned in the recess and against a short billet receiving liner. However, this arrangement is not always a convenient solution to the problems accompanying the use of slender extrusion stems in extrusion presses.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an extrusion press wherein the several parts thereof are constructed and arranged to accommodate a relatively slender extrusion stern in an improved manner.

Another object resides in the provision of an extrusion press having an extrusion stem formed with a base or root portion of relatively large diameter and a slender section of decreased diameter extending from the base or root portion to fit into the liner of the billet container, and wherein the container is formed with a recess opening towards the extrusion stem to accommodate the base or root portion of the latter when the slender section enters the liner during the extruding operation.

A further object is to provide an extrusion press having an extrusion stem and a billet container of the described character which includes a guide mounted within the recess of the container to position the billet for entry into the liner, and wherein the root or base portion of the stem is formed with a longitudinal groove to receive the guide when the root or base portion is positioned within the recess of the billet container.

The above objects, and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be manifest in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, which description is to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken along the longitudinal axis of an extrusion press embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of a guide element forming a part of the extrusion press To accomplish ice of Fig. 1, and with the outlines of the liner and billet container of that press shown in broken lines; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged view taken in the direction 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, an extrusion press 10 embodying the present invention is there shown to have certain conventional parts or elements. These conventional elements include a column or tierod 11, which is one of several similar columns or tierods extending between the hydraulic cylinder of the press and the platen. A tool or extrusion stem holder assembly 13 is carried by main ram cross-head 12 to mount an extrusion stem on the latter. Machine 10 further includes a conventional platen 14 formed with a suitable opening through which the extruded material may pass and carrying the shifting guide 15, die slide 16, diehead 17, and die 17 itself. A frame or holder 18 for supporting a billet container, generally indicated by the reference numeral 19, is movable on the frame tierods so that the billet container may be moved away from the platen to permit removal and replacement of the die.

An extrusion stem, generally indicated by the reference numeral 20, is mounted by the assembly 13 on the main ram cross-head and extends longitudinally from the latter to enter billet container 19 when the main ram is moved toward the platen, for example, by hydraulic or other pressure means, and thereby extrude the material of the billet through the opening of die 17'. The present invention provides an extrusion stem and billet container construction and accessories for an extrusion press having the conventional elements and operation noted above so that a billet of relatively small diameter may be extruded without the danger of buckling the slender extrusion stem.

According to this invention, billet container 19 includes a body 21, which may be of cylindrical shape, formed with a longitudinally extending through bore having a counter-bore at the end facing stem 20 to define a recess 22 of increased diameter. An open ended liner 23 is disposed in the bore of container body 21 to receive a billet. The opposite ends of the internal surface of liner 23 are preferably beveled to guide and facilitate the entrance of the billet into the liner and to receive the conical projection which is sometimes desired around the opening of diehead 17.

The extrusion stem 20 provided to cooperate with the billet container described above includes an enlarged mounting end 24 which is gripped or held to main ram cross-head 12 by the holder assembly 13. A root portion 25, of substantial diameter, extends from mounting end 24 and terminates in a tapering section 26 from which a relatively slender portion 27 projects. The slender portion 27 is dimensioned to be received within the liner 23 of the billet container and has a length substantially equal to that of the liner so that only a relatively short length of stem 20 is of reduced diameter and the tendency thereof to buckle under axial load is substantially reduced.

In order to feed or load the billets into liner 23, a guide 28 (Figs. 1 and 2) is positioned within recess 22 of the billet container and is held in position at the bottom of the recess by suitable bolts 29. Guide 28 is formed of an elongated block extending longitudinally in the recess and having a grooved top surface (Fig. 2) in line with the internal surface of liner 23 so that a billet may be moved longitudinally on the top surface 30 into the liner. The end of the top surface 30 facing toward the opening of recess 22 is preferably beveled to direct the billet into the groove thereof. A billet tray or loading platform 31 is preferably provided for raising the billets to the level of the grooved surface of guide 28 and is supported by vertically adjustable supporting bolts 32 on a plunger 33 which can be vertically moved by suitable conventional means. Thus, the loading platform may be raised to the position shown in Fig. 1 to position a billet thereon for movement onto guide 28 and hence into liner 23, and platform 31 may then be lowered to a position in which it will not interfere with the operative movements of stem 20.

Finally, stem 20 is formed with a longitudinal, downwardly opening groove or channel 34 (Fig. 1) extending through tapered section 26 and into the root portion 25 thereof to accommodate guide 28 when the stem is moved to its extreme position to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, in which extreme position the slender portion 27 of the stem is substantially completely enclosed within liner 23.

In operating an extrusion press having an extrusion stem and billet container arrangement embodying the features of this invention, the main ram cross-head is first backed away from the platen (Fig. 1) so that the extrusion stem is removed from the billet container. Loading platform 31 is in its lower position. A suitable billet is then placed on loading platform 31 and the latter is raised to the level shown in Fig. l to position the billet for longitudinal movement onto guide 23 in the container recess 22. When main ram cross-head 12 is advanced toward platen 14, the free end of stem 20 engages the billet and pushes the latter before it onto the guide 28. At this stage in the operation, loading platform 31 is lowered to a position clear of the path of travel of holding assembly 13, and stem 20 proceeds into recess 22 of the billet container to advance the billet into liner 23. After the billet has been moved into liner 23, further movement of stem 20 toward platen 14 effects extrusion of the billet material through the opening of die 17 while channel 34 receives guide 23.

Thus, it can be seen that, in an extrusion press embodying the present invention, the tendency of the stem 20 to buckle under axial load is minimized by reason of the short portion thereof having a relatively small diameter.

It will be clear that when handling billets of relatively large diameter, the same may have the full length which can be accommodated on the press. Therefore, a container without recess 22 will be used in the conventional manner, and the liner will extend through the container from one end to the other along the full length thereof. The stem will have a relatively large diameter substantially corresponding to the diameter of the billet so that it will be capable of withstanding the buckling stress along the full length required.

With the aid of the bolts 32 and their nuts, the position of loading platform 31 is adjustable to take care of various billet diameters. A change in the length of the billets does not require any adjustment of the loading device. Its position longitudinally of the press remains always the same.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it will be apparent that the new features of construction and combination herein set forth may be embodied in other forms of extrusion presses, and that changes and modifications may be effected in the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention, and 1 therefore desire that the invention be accorded a scope fully commensurate with its contributions to the art, which are intended to be defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an extrusion press adapted to extrude billets of relatively large cross section area and length and billets of smaller cross section area and length; a billet container formed with a longitudinal, horizontal bore therethrough and having a portion of increased diameter opening at one end to form a recess, the total length of said bore and portion of increased diameter being at least that of said relatively large billets, a tubular liner in said bore opening into said recess to receive a billet of relatively small length and area, a guide extending longitudinally at the bottom of said recess and having an upper guide surface to support a billet and guide the latter longitudinally into the bore in said liner, said an elongated extrusion stem movable horizontally in axial alignment with said liner for entry into said container through said recess of the latter, said extrusion stem including an end portion of relatively small diameter receivable in said liner and sufficiently long to extrude a billet therein and a root portion of relatively large diameter and sufficiently long to extend into said recess when said end portion is disposed in said liner, said stern having a longitudinal groove therein to accommodate said guide.

2. In an extrusion press for extruding billets of predetermined length and cross section and billets of shorter length and cross section, said press having a horizontally movable main ram cross-head, a die supporting assembly carrying an extrusion die and a billet container frame positioned between said main ram cross-head and said die; a billet container having a tubular liner therein to receive a billet and supported on said frame in axial alignment with said die, an enlarged recess in the side of said container facing the main ram cross-head and opening into said liner, a rectangular longitudinal guide member at the bottom of said recess having an upper guide surface aligned with said liner to support a billet and guide the latter into said liner, a loading platform mounted for vertical movement at said side of the container facing the main ram cross-head for raising a billet to the level of said upper guide surface, an elongated extrusion stem mounted to extend longitudinally from said main ram cross-head for movement with the latter, said extrusion stern including a free end portion of relatively small cross-section receivable in said liner and a root portion of relatively large cross-section extending into said recess when said free end portion is disposed in said liner, and a longitudinal groove formed in the bottom of said root portion and opening at one end toward said free end portion to accommodate said guide member when said root portion extends into said recess.

3. In an extrusion press adapted to extrude long billets of large cross section and shorter billets of smaller cross section; a billet container comprising a body having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough to receive a relatively short billet of relatively small cross section, a counter-bore at one end of said bore to provide a recess of increased diameter opening at one side of said body adapted to receive an extrusion stem root of larger diameter than the billet cross section, and a guide in said recess in the form of an elongated block extending longitudinally at the bottom of said recess and having an upper guide surface to support a billet and guide the latter longitudinally into said bore.

4. In an extrusion press adapted to extrude billets of relatively large cross section and length and billets of smaller cross section and length, the combination including; a billet container having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough, a hollow liner in one end portion of said bore to receive said billets of said smaller cross section and length, the other end of said bore being enlarged to provide a recess opening at one end into said liner and at its other end into one face of said container, and an elongated extrusion stem mounted for longitudinal movement into said container through said one face of the latter, said extrusion stem including an end portion of relatively small cross sectional area and of a length substantially equal to the length of said liner to extend into said liner and a root portion of greater cross sectional area being sufficiently long to extend into said recess when said end portion is positioned in said liner.

(References on following page) 0 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Sparks Mar. 28, 1933 Schwarzkopf June 25, 1940 Gibian Apr. 22, 1952 

